McFarlane vs NECA:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, NECA had more branded searches than McFarlane among action figure brands worldwide. NECA was estimated to have 90.5K branded searches compared to McFarlane’s 49.5K, and held a 2.9% Share of Search versus McFarlane’s 1.6%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, McFarlane or NECA?
Compare the action figure brands people buy. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for NECA, McFarlane. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Barbie | Funko | Bandai | Hasbro | NECA | McFarlane |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 64.5% | 19.4% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.4% | 26.1% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 63.7% | 23.2% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 60.7% | 22.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 62.6% | 18.8% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 1.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 65.7% | 16.1% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 68.1% | 13.7% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 61.5% | 18.5% | 8.3% | 6.7% | 3% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 64% | 15.7% | 8.6% | 7% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 59.9% | 14.7% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 3.6% | 1.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.2% | 17.8% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the McFarlane and NECA comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- NECA was ahead of McFarlane in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, McFarlane’s estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide moved from 1.4% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 49.5K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, NECA’s estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide moved from 3.2% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 90.5K.
How did search popularity change for action figure brands worldwide in August 2026?
1 change
In August 2026, NECA lost estimated Share of Search among action figure brands worldwide, from 3.6% to 2.9%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using McFarlane’s and NECA’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.